An Interview with Natalia Jaster: Exploring the World of Trick and the Dark Seasons: Foolish Kingdoms SeriesJoin hosts Allorah and Roe in this captivating episode of Plot with a Twist as they dive deep into the world of Natalia Jaster's 'Trick.' Discover the inspiration behind Poet, the salacious jester, and Briar, the impassive princess. Natalia shares her writing process, insights into the Foolish Kingdoms series, and her thoughts on indie versus traditional publishing. Perfect for fans of fantasy romance and those intrigued by unique characters and world-building. Tune in for a spirited discussion filled with magic, wisdom, and a touch of smut!00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview00:29 The Role of the Court Jester01:34 Interview with Natalia Jasta02:11 Inspiration Behind the Jester Character06:09 Historical Context and Research08:26 Character Development and Themes18:42 World-Building and Magic System24:26 Writing Style and Voice39:28 Romance and Intimacy in the Series46:37 Character Dynamics and Emotional Writing47:14 Nicu's Heartbreaking Scene49:49 Foreshadowing and Breadcrumbs59:39 Writing Process Insights01:05:27 Challenges of Writing Complex Scenes01:07:31 Empathy and Criticism in Writing01:12:06 Favorite Books and Characters01:25:49 Power Couples and Long-term Relationships01:28:39 Bookish Habits and Relationships01:29:19 Journey to Becoming an Author01:31:10 Love for Villains and Dark Characters01:34:54 Indie vs. Traditional Publishing01:40:26 Challenges of Publishing and Translations01:44:29 Favorite Reads and Recommendations01:56:33 Cocktail Recipes Inspired by Characters02:00:05 Final Thoughts and Farewell

Divergent Series Deep Dive | Spoiler-Free and Spoilery ReviewJoin your bookish hosts Allorah and Roe in this episode of 'The Plot With A Twist' as they dive deep into Veronica Roth's Divergent series. From the intricacies of a post-apocalyptic dystopian world governed by five factions to the emotional rollercoaster of Tris and Four's relationship, this discussion covers it all. Spoiler-free and spoiler-full parts offer something for everyone, whether you're a newcomer or a longtime fan of the series. Tune in for insights, heated debates, and a nostalgic trip back to a trilogy that captured hearts and minds.00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview00:29 Setting the Scene: Post-Apocalyptic World01:06 Divergent Trilogy Overview01:39 Technical Difficulties and Nostalgia02:02 Divergent Series Summary (Spoiler-Free)03:45 Personal Reading Experiences05:20 Spoiler-Free Writing Analysis06:24 Character Dynamics and Relationships06:34 Spoiler-Free Found Family Dynamics08:38 YA Dystopian Era and Female Protagonists10:30 Intermission and Spoiler Alert11:05 Divergent Series Deep Dive (Spoilers)17:20 Character Analysis: Tris and Four20:46 Comparisons with The Hunger Games22:30 Found Families in Depth27:51 Key Characters and Arcs42:06 Peter Hayes: The Complex Villain43:41 Caleb Pryor: The Most Hated Character47:09 Natalie Pryor: The Mother with Secrets49:29 The Factions: A Deep Dive58:37 Favorite Moments from the Series01:03:23 Movie Adaptations: Hits and Misses01:05:56 The Controversial Ending01:18:10 Four's Short Stories and Final Thoughts01:21:23 Cocktail Recipe and Farewell

Celebrating the Strength of Female Main Characters (FMCs)

Join bookish hosts Roe and Allorah on this episode of 'The Plot With A Twist' as they dive into the world of the female main characters (FMCs). They discuss what makes a great FMC, their impact on storytelling, and how they challenge societal norms. Discover authors who write compelling FMCs and explore a list of personal favourite characters. Plus, enjoy a special drink recipe inspired by a beloved classic literary woman to be reckoned with. Tune in for an engaging conversation about strong, resilient, and inspiring women in fiction.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

01:12 Celebrating Female Main Characters (FMCs)

02:34 What Makes a Great FMC?

04:42 Impact of a Well-Written FMC

06:58 FMCs and MMCs: Special Combinations

08:59 Identifying with FMCs

12:41 Overcoming Adversity: FMC Backstories

17:26 Quiet Resilience in FMCs

19:40 Authors Who Write Great FMCs

28:46 Unapologetically Nesta: A Deep Dive

30:39 Ileana: The Epitome of Badass

32:51 The Three Sisters of Once and Future Witches

33:56 Ada from King of Flesh and Bone

34:40 Aurora Whiteshaw: Strength and Conviction

37:27 Sloane Sutherland: Dealing with Demons

38:05 Violet Sorrengail: Chronic Illness and Strength

40:01 Ally from Lights Out: Wit and Trauma

40:46 Allie Hayes: Sticking to Her Guns

41:43 Alyssa from Dante: Quiet Resilience

42:40 Dr. London Noble: Untangling Beliefs

43:46 Sivon from Soul Match: Strength and Perseverance

45:37 Willa Grant: The Free-Spirit

47:30 Val and Savannah: Strong Mafia Women

49:33 Sloan from Carnal Urges: Carefree and Hilarious

53:27 Celebrating Powerful Women with a Lizzie Bennet Cocktail

Empyrean Series Fan Theories: A Deep Dive

Join bibliomaniac hosts Allorah and Roe on 'The Plot With A Twist' as they explore fan theories surrounding Rebecca Yarros' Empyrean Series. Dive into discussions on the mysteries of Violet and the Quest squad, dissecting everything from character arcs to potential plot twists. Tune in for a lively debate filled with spoilers, intriguing insights, and bookish banter. Don't forget to stay tuned every Wednesday for new episodes and give us a like, share, and subscribe if you enjoy our deep literary dives.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:30 Diving into the Empyread Series

00:57 Fan Theories and Speculations

01:29 Health Updates and Personal Anecdotes

01:58 The Reluctance and Appeal of Fan Theories

02:09 Deep Dive into Specific Theories

04:04 Theories on Character Motivations and Plot Twists

16:39 Theories on Violet's Memories and Relationships

31:47 Theories on Symbolic Items and Their Meanings

41:57 Theories on Dragons and Power Dynamics

50:17 Theories on Dragon Colors and Power

51:44 Speculations on Garrick's Invisibility

53:10 Debunking Brennen as a Venin

54:05 Bodhi and Garrick's True Relationships

55:29 Theories on Liam and Other Characters

58:04 Violet's Mind-Walking Abilities

01:12:39 Dane's Redemption Arc

01:25:13 The Mystery of Dragon Names

01:37:14 Griffin Riders: The Middle Children

01:40:05 Dragon's Breath Elixir Recipe

01:41:50 Closing Remarks and Social Media Plugs

Rumble in the Jungle: BDE Fantasy Main Character Edition

Join Roe and Allorah, your bookish hosts from The Plot With A Twist, for a thrilling podcast episode! Dive into the ultimate battle of the main male characters from fantasy books that exude Big D*ck Energy (BDE). In this episode, the hosts pit their favourite characters against each other in a fun and fiery competition to see who truly has the strongest BDE. Expect heated debates, hilarious commentary, and a whole lot of smut. Roe and Allorah meticulously compare categories like magic, charisma, stamina, and main man moments. Tune in for part one of this showdown and stay tuned for part two to see who comes out on top.

00:00 Welcome to Plot with a Twist

00:59 Introducing the Main Male Character Showdown

03:15 Cocktail of the Day: The Big Johnson

04:56 Round 1: Knox Thorn vs. Ridoc Gamlyn

19:25 Round 2: Draco Malfoy vs. Azriel

36:11 Round 3: Cassian vs. Poet

49:36 Main Man Moments and Quotes

52:03 Final Round Announcement

52:34 Red Corner vs. Blue Corner Xaden Riorson vs. Ruhn Dannan

53:15 Magic and Abilities Debate

54:55 Physical Attributes and Stamina

01:03:59 One-Liners and Attitude

01:09:26 Main Man Moments Showdown

01:24:48 Final Round Tie and Future Plans

01:38:00 Closing Remarks and Podcast Info

Book to Screen Adaptations: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

Join bookish hosts Allorah and Roe on this episode of 'The Plot With A Twist' as they dive into the world of book to screen adaptations. From beloved classics to modern hits, they explore the challenges and triumphs of bringing literary worlds to life on screen. Tune in as they discuss their favourite adaptations, those that missed the mark, and what makes a book truly worth adapting. Plus, don't miss their thoughts on upcoming adaptation releases and a special cocktail recipe aptly called The Queen's Gambit to sip on while you listen!

00:00 Welcome to The Plot With A Twist

00:28 The Magic of Book to Screen Adaptations

02:52 Epic Tales and Fan Favourites

04:21 Diving into Specific Adaptations

07:31 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

17:41 Casting Choices and Budget Constraints

22:18 Disappointing Adaptations

44:24 Reluctant Twilight Tradition

45:09 Disappointment with Book-to-Screen Adaptations

46:09 The Problem with Changing Plotlines

47:03 Critique of Character Portrayals

48:54 Dan Brown's Angels and Demons

50:41 Harry Potter and Other Adaptation Failures

51:27 The Power of One: Book vs. Movie

56:21 The Hunger Games: Missing Depth

01:00:51 Inferno: A Changed Ending

01:03:15 Fried Green Tomatoes: A Queer Love Story Amid The Great Depression

01:07:36 Flowers in the Attic: What's Left Out

01:12:14 Harry Potter: Dumbledore's Out-of-Character Moment

01:13:28 Outlander: Better on Screen?

01:15:59 The Impact of Adaptations on Likeability

01:21:53 Upcoming Adaptations to Look Forward To

01:29:55 Cocktail of the Week: The Queen's Gambit

01:31:07 Closing Remarks and Thank You

Exploring the Found Family Trope in Books

Join Roe and Allorah on 'The Plot With A Twist' as they delve into the beloved found family trope in books. From discussing popular tropes that pair well with found family like enemies to lovers and forced proximity to exploring genres such as sports romance and dystopian worlds, this episode shines a spotlight on the books and authors that masterfully create chosen families. Tune in for an insightful discussion with book recommendations, books that missed the found family mark, and a celebratory punch recipe from realsimple.com to share with your own found family. Perfect for fans of fantasy, romance, and contemporary genres.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:27 Exploring the Found Family Trope

01:40 Characteristics of Found Family

04:36 Tropes and Genres that Compliment Found Family

06:26 Genres Where Found Family Doesn't Fit

09:04 Identifying Found Family in Books

14:49 Top Found Family Books

31:08 Diving into Dark Romance

32:15 Exploring Cowboy Romance Leads

33:09 Prime Mating Agency: A Futuristic Romance

34:44 Chicagoland Vampires and More Paranormal Reads

36:33 YA and Paranormal Series Recommendations

39:56 Dark Romance and Found Family

48:13 Authors Who Nail the Found Family Trope

53:20 Books with Found Family on Our TBR

55:52 Gin Cider Punch: A Drink to Share with the Fam

57:40 Thank You, Farewell, and Social Media Info

An In-Depth Review of 'Sunrise on the Reaping': Hidden Gems and Emotional Depths

Join hosts Allorah and Roe from The Plot With A Twist as they delve into 'Sunrise on the Reaping' by Suzanne Collins. They explore character developments, hidden gems, and the emotional highs and lows of this gripping addition to the Hunger Gamesverse. The episode also touches on the intricate world-building, the evolution of the Capitol's cruelty, and the use of historical and literary references throughout the book. Don't miss their spoiler-free overview and detailed spoiler discussion, along with a themed cocktail recipe, The Raven, in honor of Haymitch's girl, Lenore.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:37 Main Character Energy: Side Characters We Love

00:58 Deep Dive into Haymitch Abernathy's Story

02:14 Review and Ratings for 'Sunrise on the Reaping'

04:42 Discussion on Reading Order and Series Continuity

10:35 Character Highlights and Standout Moments

15:57 Suzanne Collins' Masterful Writing

20:43 Spoiler-Free Conclusion and Intermission

21:14 Spoiler-Filled Deep Dive

59:09 Symbolism in The Hunger Games

59:58 Sweetheart and The Real McCoy

01:01:54 Effie's Evolution

01:04:43 The Covey's Legacy

01:12:31 Theories on Covey Descendants

01:17:26 Character Analysis: Plutarch and Beetee

01:29:55 Mags and Wiress: The Toll of Torture

01:31:46 Effie and Her Moral Compass

01:34:50 Snow's Descent into Darkness

01:41:01 The Covey Ballads and Their Significance to the Plot and Appalachian History

01:48:13 Cocktail Recipe: The Raven

01:51:43 Closing Remarks and Social Media Links

Exploring the Worlds Romance Literature: Author Interviews and Insights

Join Roe, Allorah, and Shaye from The Plot With A Twist at the Wild Out West book event where we delve into the exciting literary worlds of numerous authors. In this episode, hear from Sienna Gypsy about her biker series, Polly Holmes on her cosy mysteries, and Jordan Kate Buck discussing her time-travel debut. We also chat with Hannah Penfold on her interconnected fantasy romances, Caroline Ren on her genre-spanning works, and Amy Andrews about her catalogue smutty contemporary romances. You'll also here from Layla Pine, Gemma Black, Natasha Madden, Lana Percherczyk, and the masterminds behind it all - Julie Weaver and Louisa West on their latest works, favourite characters, what drives their creative passion, how this event came to be and plans for a Wild Out West 2026. Enjoy candid discussions, author stories, and engaging book recommendations.

00:00 Introduction to Sienna Gypsy's Books

01:17 Polly Holmes: Cozy Mysteries and Romantic Suspense

02:36 Jordan Kate Buck: Time Travel and Contemporary Romance

04:30 Danni McLean: Spicy Contemporary Romance

05:10 Hannah Penfold's Exciting Day at the Event

08:02 Literary Ink's Unique Tattoos

08:51 Caroline Ren's Diverse Romance Genres

10:17 Amy Andrews' Sexy Contemporary Romance

12:38 Book Lovers Share Their Experiences

14:41 Nicole Flockton's Protector Romance

16:45 Emma Mugglestone: Wattle Junction Series

18:48 Layla Pine: Contemporary and Paranormal Romance

20:53 Rebecca Barber's Versatile Romance Writing

21:49 Lauren from Unlocking Pleasure: Pure Romance

24:53 Brittany Anne: New York City Series

25:51 Belle Harper: Reverse Harem and Omega Bears

27:08 Natasha Madden: Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

29:19 Shannon Riley: Romantic Fantasy Trilogy

30:42 Torah Channing: Alien Romance

34:11 Danni Line: Paranormal and Romantic Suspense

31:56 Book Enthusiasts at Wild Out West

35:51 Discussing Favorite Tropes and Characters

36:11 Interview with Lana Percherczyk

40:05 Interview with Claire Butler

41:59 Julie Weaver and Louisa West: Event Organizers' Insights

45:30 Interview with Madeline Te Whiu

49:52 Interview with Shaluna the Tarot Reader

51:06 Tattoo Trends at the Event

52:06 Interview with Luci Fer

53:04 Interview with Nattie Kate Mason

56:21 Interview with Danielle Drummond

57:49 Interview with Fabled Subscription Box

59:45 Interview with Fire and Spice

01:00:24 Interview with Melanie Hepburn

01:01:03 Interview with Charlize Kelly

01:02:54 Interview with Addison Acres

01:04:39 Attendee Tattoo Spotlight

01:05:43 Interview with Gemma Black

01:07:05 Event Attendee Experiences, How Much They Spent, & Farewells

Unraveling Snow: A Deep Dive into 'The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes'

Join hosts Roe and Allorah in this week's episode of The Plot With A Twist as they explore the intricate layers of Suzanne Collins' Hunger Games prequel, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. From Coriolanus Snow's tragic backstory to the psychological nuance of the Capitol's most notorious villain, no stone is left unturned. Delve into themes of nature vs. nurture, social conditioning, and mental health. Packed with spoilers and mature themes, listener discretion is advised. Additional discussions include notable characters like Tigris, Sejanus Plinth, and Lucy Gray, as well as the historical significance woven into Collins' narrative. Sip on The Covey cocktail as you listen and enjoy this bookish journey.

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview

00:26 Exploring the Villain: Coriolanus Snow

01:41 Shea's Departure Announcement

02:26 Casual Chat and Event Recap

03:13 Discussion on The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

04:12 Nature vs. Nurture in Snow's Upbringing

08:36 Capitol vs. District Youth Treatment

14:57 Character Analysis: Lucy Gray

19:01 Snow's Inner Conflict and Manipulation

30:23 The Mentor Games and Capitol Politics

47:23 Debating Snow's Heart

47:46 Snow's Selfish Ambitions

49:40 Snow's Fear of Nature

50:51 Snow's Haunted Past

52:11 Snow's Descent into Villainy

53:41 Snow's Manipulative Nature

59:10 Snow's Poisoning Era

01:04:08 Snow's Sociopathic Traits

01:11:07 Historical Significance in the Book

01:16:40 Side Characters and Their Impact

01:29:37 Strabo's Social Status Game

01:30:21 Character Integrity and Survival

01:30:49 Comparing Characters: Katniss, Peeta, and Others

01:31:14 Ma Plinth's Backbone and Family Dynamics

01:32:54 Snow's Manipulative Tactics

01:33:54 Mentors and Tributes: A Closer Look

01:37:48 The Career Pack and Arena Strategies

01:40:36 The Covey: Found Family and Loyalty

01:42:17 Snow's Influence on the Hunger Games

01:45:10 Parallels Between Characters

01:53:06 Final Thoughts and Reflections

02:02:54 Cocktail Recipe: The Covey

02:05:36 Closing Remarks and Social Media Shoutout